Tire-tightener.



No. 630,3. Patented Aug. 8, 1899.

H. C. ALLEY.

TIRE TIGHTENER.

(.No Mode PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY C. ALLEY, OF SINNETT, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.

TIRE-TIGHTENE.

SPECIFIGALION forming part of Letters iPatent No. 630,311, dated August 8, 1899.

Application filed June i.199. SerialNo. 713,97si (Nomodel.)

T0 all whom .35 may c0nceri:

Be it known that I, HENRY C. ALLEY, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Sinnett, in the county of Pawnee and Territory of Oklahoma, have invented a new and useful Tire- Tightener, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tire-tighteners, and has for its objeot to provide improved means whereby the space between the ends of the felly-sections may be adjusted so as to expand the felly and thereby tighten the tire.

To this end the present invention consiste in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particuarly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the rim of a wheel having the present invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is adetail perspective view of one of the cap-plates Which is adapted to be fitted to one of the ends of the felly. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the tightening-wedge.

Correspondin g parts a1e designated by like reference characters in all the figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the invention comprises opposite cap-plates 1 and 2, respectively, which are adapted to be fitted to the adjacent ends of the felly-sections 3 and 4, and a wedge 5, adapted to be driven in between the cap-plates for the purpose of forcing apart the ends of the felly, whereby the latter may be expanded and the tire tightened thereby.

The cap-plates are duplicates in construction, and one of them is shown in detail in Fig. 3. Each cap-plate comprises a substantially rectangular fiat head 6, having opposite side flanges 7 and top and bottom fianges 8, forming a socket adapted to receive one of the ends of the felly, whereby the cap-plate is adapted to be fitted thereto. The outer face of the fiat head of the cap-plate is corrugated transversely, as shown, so as to facilitate the engagement of the wedge therewith, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Fig. 4 of the drawings,

As shown in the Wedge 5 consists of alongitudinzmlly-tapefing plate of a greater length than the Width of the felly-sections 3 and 4 and provided upon both sides thereof With longitudinal corrugations or serrations adapted to have an interloeking engagement with the corresponding corrugations or serrations of the cap-plates 1 and 2, between which it is inserted. The said wedge-plate 5 is preferably further provided in one sidethereof and intermediate its ends With a transverse incision 9, which permit-s the projecting portion of the wedge being broken off at the side of the rim after having been forcibly driven betiveen the opposing felly-caps 1 and 2.

In using the invention the cap-plates 1 and 2 are respectively fitted to the opposing ends of the felly-sections 3 and 4, and the wedgeplate 5 is then driven laterally between the said cap-plates from either side of the felly, whereby the longitudinal cri*ugations or serrations of the wedge will register and interlock With the transverse corrugations or serrations in the outer face of the opposite caps. It will thus be seen that as the wedge isdriven in place between the cap-plates the ends or the felly-sections are forced apart by the wedg ing action, While at the same time the interlocking engagement et the opposing corrugations effectually prevents accident-al displacement of the wedge and yet will not interferewith the latter beingdriven inward or outward, as may be required.

Under some conditions it may be desirable 'to permanently fasten the wedge in place between the opposite caps 1 and 2, and to secnre this result in a simple and efiective manner it is only necessary after breaking off the projecting portion of the wedge at the incision 9 to upset or swage the ends of the wedge at the sides of the felly, so as to positively prevent the same from moving in either direction.

Changesin the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departin g from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

What I claim is- 1. In a tire-tightenir, the combination with opposite ends of an adjacent felly-section, of cap-plates fitted thereto and provided with transverse corrugations in ther outer expoSed faces, and a Wedge provided With longitudinal corrugations upon opposite sides thereof and adapted to register with the corrugationsof the respective cap-plates, substantially as shown and described. V

2. In a tire-tightener, the combination with the opposing fellysections, of the opposite caps fit-ted respectively to the separate fellysections and provided with corrugations, a wedge adapted to be inserted laterally between said caps, and having corrugatoS inter1ocking With those of the latter, substantially as set forth.

3. In a tire-tghtener, the eombination with the felly-sections, of the oppositecapS fitted respectively to the sparate felIy-sections and provided in their outer faces with transverse corrugations, and a wedge-plate adapted to be inserted 1aterally between said caps and provided with corrugations upon both sides thereof, and in one side With a transverse incision, Substantally as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witness es.

v HENRY O. ALLEY. Witnesses.. r.

, G. T. GRAVES, S. S. LEMLEY. 

